Exam Preparation for Trinity & RSL
How Artium takes you from Initial to Grade 8 with Trinity College London or RSL Awards - online or at a centre.
About Exam Preparation for Trinity & RSL
Artium’s music certification courses prepare students for internationally recognised graded exams on Piano/Keyboard, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, and Vocals, from Initial through Grades 1–8. Teachers help you pick the right board and grade, and Artium’s exam administration team handles the forms and fee payment.
Exams can be taken in Online Digital Mode - recorded and uploaded from home - or Physical Mode at an exam centre. Artium works with Trinity College London, RSL Awards, and ABRSM for Western music, and with Gandharva Mahavidyalaya for Indian classical.
- Boards
- Trinity College London, RSL Awards, ABRSM, Gandharva Mahavidyalaya
- Grades
- Initial, Grades 1–8
- Exam modes
- Online digital (recorded) or physical centre
- Support
- Grade selection by your teacher; enrolment, forms, and fees by the exam team
- Prerequisite
- Enrolled in an Artium course on the graded path
What you can be examined in
- Piano
- Keyboard
- Acoustic Guitar
- Electric Guitar
- Western Vocals
The grade ladder
Each rung, what it expects, and where it sits on the qualification framework.
Initial
First exam after roughly 6–12 months - short pieces and simple technical work.
Grades 1–3
Beginner grades: technique, rhythm, and reading with contrasting pieces.
Grades 4–5
Intermediate grades: expression, improvisation, and stylistic range.
Grades 6–8
Advanced grades with UCAS points - recital-standard performance by Grade 8.
What is in the exam
A typical exam cycle with Artium
| Component | Marks | What it involves |
|---|---|---|
| Grade selection | Month 1 | Your teacher assesses your playing and recommends the board (Trinity or RSL) and grade. |
| Preparation | Months 1–6 | Pieces, technical work, and supporting tests or session skills are built into your weekly lessons. |
| Mock exam | Month 5 | A full run-through, marked to the board’s criteria, with feedback. |
| Enrolment | Month 5 | Artium’s exam team completes the entry forms and fee payment on your behalf. |
| Exam | Month 6 | Record and upload for a digital exam, or attend a centre for a face-to-face exam. |
How to progress
From first lesson to the top grade - the steps most Artium students follow.
Start a course on the graded path
Piano, keyboard, guitar, or Western vocal - each follows the board syllabus for the chosen grade.
Let your teacher pick the grade
Grade choice is about your playing, not your age or how long you have learned.
Prepare in lessons
The exam content is the lesson content - no separate cramming.
Artium handles administration
Forms, fees, and scheduling are done for you.
Sit the exam, digital or physical
Then move on to the next grade with the same teacher.
Courses that prepare you
Live, 1-on-1 classes following this syllabus.
Figures on this page are from the official Artium syllabus ↗. Boards update syllabuses periodically - check the official page before booking an exam.